Blog #1 - Health Concerns

The health issues I'm most concerned about are:

1) colon cancer--I have colon problems and have lost loved ones to colon cancer. I want to be careful with this problem by eating well, being physically active, and getting screened.
2) cardiac health--1/3 women have heart attack. My mother is having cardiac health problems, and I've lost loved ones to heart attack. I want to be physically active and eat well.
3) stress management--As a full time student, working full time and studying a lot to make A's for OT grad school, I tend to get quite stressed. It's important for my health to have good time-management skills and stay focused, while still remembering to smell the roses once in a while.
4) fibromyalgia--This is a women's health issue that has run in my mom's side of family for a long time. We're seeing signs that I may have it. I would like to promote awareness of this "silent" disease.

The two women I interviewed are Noemi and Donna:

Noemi is a hispanic female, age 47. The health issues she is most concerned about are: 1) heart disease-- Her mother died at 59 of heart disease, and she wants to stay healthy to beat her genetic propensity of heart disease.
2) exercise-- She walks and runs 30 mins. 1-2 times every day for four reasons: her father has type 2 diabetes, to prevent herself from worrying too much about her 3 kids, to be a physically fit role model for her three overweight sisters, and she believes her whole exercise routine has made her bone density so high (against osteoporosis).

Donna is a caucasian female, age 49. The health issues she is most concerned about are:
1) cardiac health-- She just saw a doctor for angina (chest pain), she has high cholesterol, is categorized "obese," and has a difficult time exercising due to arthritis and being overweight.
2) breast cancer-- She just lost her mother to cancer in hospice in December, has had a tumor removed, and has had hyperplasia.
3) arthritis-- This makes it painful for her to be physically active and to get around in general. 4) fibromyalgia-- This has run in her mother's side of family for a long time and can be as debilitating as arthritis.

My health concerns were very similar to Donna's. Cancer, fibromyalgia, and arthritis are among my top concerns too. We need to stay physically fit and eat well to help prevent these diseases. We also need to get sufficient sleep and manage stress. Proper screening of breast cancer and colon cancer will help as well.